Republican lieutenant governor hopefuls defend running mates

The four Republican lieutenant governor hopefuls met in their first televised debate Thursday night, talking up their running mates and defending the largely ceremonial office as a post in which they could make big changes for Illinois.

That represented a change in tune for Rep. Jil Tracy, who has voted to eliminate the lieutenant governor’s office. The lawmaker from Quincy said a new state law that requires governor candidates to pick their running mates before the primary election means the second banana will be given more responsibilities. Tracy, the running mate of Sen. Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale, said she would be in charge of repealing rules and regulations that get in the way of business development.

Maria Rodriguez was asked if she picked the wrong candidate. The former Long Grove mayor was first approached by Winnetka venture capitalist Bruce Rauner, but choose to run with Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington. Brady has struggled to raise money, while Rauner has put $6 million of his own money into the contest. Rodriguez said she made the right call, contending that political newcomer Rauner doesn’t have the legislative experience necessary to serve as the state’s chief executive.

Rauner picked Wheaton City Council member Evelyn Sanguinetti as his running mate. Sanguinetti downplayed the vast amount of money the Rauner campaign has spent on TV ads to introduce himself to voters.

“To say people can only be convinced with a commercial is to not give the people of Illinois the credit they deserve,” said Sanguinetti, an attorney.

But Tracy said Rauner’s spending raised questions about how he’d handle the state’s checkbook. Tracy’s family, which owns a large food distribution company, has donated $115,600 to Dillard’s campaign effort. “I would have a hard time putting that kind of money into a campaign for office because I don’t think it shows fiscal restraint,” Tracy said of Rauner’s personal spending.

Meanwhile, Northbrook attorney Steve Kim defended running mate Dan Rutherford against lawsuit allegations of sexual harassment and political pressure lodged by a former top aide in the treasurer’s office. “He has told me none of it is true, and I believe in him and I trust him,” said Kim, who lost a bid for Illinois attorney general to Democrat Lisa Madigan in 2010.

The 30-minute debate on WTTW’s “Chicago Tonight” came as a union-backed political action committee headed by a former chief of staff to Republican U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock of Peoria began airing pro-Dillard TV ads. It marked the first broadcast ads on behalf of Dillard, who had seen his donations choked off by Rauner’s aggressive fundraising until he got the backing of public employee and teachers’ unions. In addition, the Dillard camp launched its own cable TV ads Thursday, touting the Hinsdale senator’s belief in “conservative values” and noting his teacher-union support.